Louisa’s Smith named Gatorade State Player of the year

The accolades keep rolling in for Louisa County football’s Brandon Smith.

Already named the Region 4B defensive player of the year earlier this week, Smith was named the Gatorade Virginia State player of the year. The Penn State-bound linebacker who’s set to graduate early and head to Happy Valley joins Chris Long as a local who won the award at STAB back in 2003. Last year, Sam Brunelle won the Virginia state player of the year award for girls basketball.

Smith follows another Penn State recruit who won it last year, Ricky Slade, who will

He is a consensus five-star recruit and 247 ranks him the No. 1 prospect in Virginia, the No. 1 inside linebacker in America and the 14th best prospect overall.

Smith piled up 135 tackles and five sacks for the Lions while also forcing nine fumbles and racking up 12 quarterback pressures.

Smith is an Under Armour All-American, the Jefferson District defensive player of the year. As a junior during the Lions’ run to the state title game, Smith had 119 tackles including 73 solo on a loaded defense, with 18 TFL and seven hurries.